At a Glance: The $100,000 Minimum vs. Reality

How much Super Visa insurance coverage is required? According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you must have a minimum of $100,000 CAD in emergency medical coverage. However, since 2026 Canadian hospital rates for non-residents typically range from $2,000 to $4,000 per day for a standard hospital bed and $5,000 to $10,000+ per day for intensive care, depending on the hospital and province, many families are now opting for $250,000 or $500,000 in coverage to avoid out-of-pocket disasters.

When applying for a Super Visa, the question isn't just about what the law requires, it’s about what your family can afford to lose. While the $100,000 limit is the entry requirement for the Canadian Super Visa program, it may not be enough to cover a major medical event during your parents’ or grandparent’s stay.

The Super Visa Mandatory Minimum

To pass the technical screening during the super visa application, your insurance certificate must meet these specific criteria:

• Minimum Limit: At least $100,000 in total coverage.

• Duration: Valid for at least one year from the date of entry.

• Provider: Must be from a Canadian insurance company (or an authorized foreign provider).

• Proof of Payment: The policy must be fully paid; IRCC does not accept quotes.

Why $100,000 Might Not Be Enough

In 2026, the cost of healthcare for non-residents in Canada has reached record highs. If your parent or grandparent requires hospitalization, the $100,000 "safety net" can vanish faster than you think.

Medical Event

Estimated Non-Resident Cost

Impact on $100k Limit

Emergency Room Visit

$800 to $1,500+

1% of coverage

5-Day Hospital Stay (Standard)

$10,000 to $20,000 (excluding physician fees, diagnostics, and medications)

Up to 20% of coverage

7-Day ICU Stay

$35,000 to $70,000+ depending on level of care required

Up to 70% of coverage

Air Ambulance Repatriation

$25,000 - $50,000+ depending on distance and medical needs

Up to 50% of coverage

As shown above, a single week in the ICU combined with a flight back to their country of origin could easily exceed the mandatory $100,000 limit, leaving the Canadian host potentially responsible for the remaining balance.

Choosing the Right Coverage Level

When using the Goose Insurance App, you can choose from various coverage tiers. Here is how to decide which is right for your family:

• $100,000 (The Entry Level): Best for healthy, younger applicants (under 65) with no pre-existing conditions who strictly want to meet the IRCC Portal requirements.

• $250,000 (The Balanced Choice): Recommended for those aged 65–75. It provides a buffer for longer hospital stays or complications from chronic conditions.

• $500,000+ (The Total Security): Essential for applicants over 75 or those with stable but complex medical histories (like heart disease or diabetes) where the risk of intensive care is higher.

Technical Compliance: The "Stability" Factor

No matter which coverage limit you choose, your policy is only as good as its Stability Period. With Goose Insurance, "Stability" is a strictly defined technical requirement that determines whether a parent's or grandparent's chronic condition is covered or excluded during an emergency in Canada.

Goose’s Mandatory Look-Back Windows

• Applicants Under Age 65: Your medical conditions must be stable for 90 days immediately prior to your policy’s effective date.

• Applicants Age 65 to 84: Your medical conditions must be stable for 180 days immediately prior to your policy’s effective date.

What Does Goose Define as "Stable"?

A medical condition (whether a diagnosis has been determined or not) is only considered Stable if it meets all of the following criteria during your specific look-back window:

• No New Diagnosis or Treatment: You have not received a new diagnosis, and no new medical treatments have been started or prescribed.

• No Medication Changes: There has been no "change" in your medication. This includes starting, stopping, increasing, or even decreasing a dosage.

• No Hospitalization: You have not occupied a hospital bed for more than 48 hours for medical treatment related to that condition.

• No Symptom Deterioration: You have not experienced any new, more frequent, or more severe symptoms.

• No Pending Referrals: You have not been referred to a specialist, and you are not awaiting surgery or the results of further investigations by any medical professional.

The Goose Benefit: Instant, Compliant Coverage

Goose Insurance streamlines the mandatory insurance requirement, ensuring your parents' or grandparents' unique medical needs are met with a policy that is technically compliant for the Super Visa Requirements.

• Flexible Coverage Amounts: Customize your protection from $100,000 to meet the mandatory minimum and higher-security tiers of $250,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000 to perfectly match your budget and family’s medical needs.

• 60-Second Digital Certificates: Regardless of the sum insured you select, your official Declaration of Insurance is generated in under 60 seconds, perfect for an immediate IRCC Portal upload.

• Flexible 11-Month Installments: Easily manage the cost of comprehensive coverage with a specialized installment payment plan that spreads the premium over 11 months.

• Pre-Existing Condition Riders: For applicants with chronic conditions, Goose offers a Pre-Existing Medical Condition Rider to provide coverage for conditions that meet the 90-day or 180-day stability requirements.

• 24/7 Support: Every policy includes 24/7 emergency support through Intrepid 24/7, ensuring a direct link to medical professionals the moment an emergency occurs in Canada.